Monday, September 24, 2012

If you are using Apologia's Exploring Creation with Astronomy you might enjoy using Dinah Zike and Susan Simpson's Great Science Adventures - The World of Space alongside of it. The World of Space is filled with mini books and graphics, directions for a 10 Top Tab Book of the Solar System as well as instructions and pictures for an astronomy timeline. We will paste the pictures provided for the timeline in our Book of Centuries. The World of Space is intended to stand on its own, but I used it by taking the graphics and mini-books and using them as they fit into the Exploring Creation With Astronomy units. Here is a link to the publisher's information for The World of Space.

Because math takes a good bit of concentrated effort and quite a bit of help at least during the early elementary years I have found it helpful to enlist the help of older students for half an hour each day to help the youngest two with their math. This frees me for a half hour of concentrated time to work through my high schooler's Algebra II with her. The 8th grader helps the 3rd grader, when she needs help and the Sixth grader helps the second grader. This seems to work well for us. When the 40 minutes allotted for math is up we're all ready to move on to other subjects. I have also enlisted the high schooler to listen to the second and third grader read aloud as they both know how to read but still need practice. Since the younger two are done with math and reading we can focus on literature, history, and science projects. With the added help I can fit in time for each of the students individually and still feel that the younger ones who require more attention are getting what they need. A side benefit is that as the older students tutor they learn patience, persistence, and communication skills. I have chosen the skill subjects - math and reading - rather than the information subjects because the older students should have mastery to that level and be capable of helping the younger students but if there is enough age difference and a competent older student the information subjects could be made to work, too. The older students should be able to teach whatever they know well themselves.

Fall is here and the leaves are beautiful!! We took the opportunity to
pick colorful leaves and try to preserve a few. We ironed some between
sheets or waxed paper and dipped some in melted paraffin wax. When they
were dry we put them in a bowl on the table to enjoy for days to come.
Here are some pictures of the process and the product.

We melted the paraffin wax in a disposable foil pan in a pan of water. Then dipped each leaf in the melted wax before laying it on a thick paper to dry.

I let Ruth and John each arrange some of their un-waxed leaves on a piece of waxed paper then covered them with another piece of waxed paper and covered it with a towel and ironed it until the waxed paper melted and stuck together. We taped them to a window.

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Welcome!

We have home schooled for over 20 years now and I still enjoy learning daily with my children! There is always something new to learn and new books to be discovered as well as old ones to revisit. I have been much influenced by Karen Andreola's books and appreciate Charlotte Mason's wonderful philosphy. We love books!! I also like her emphasis on creativity and searching for beauty in the arts. We try to get our formal school work done in the morning so the children have time to think and create in the afternoons. The children help with the household chores so that life flows along smoothly now and they are prepared for adult life and know how to serve others. This blog is a small peek into our learning adventures. Hope you enjoy it. You might also enjoy my blog "All Things Bright and Beautiful" posted weekly which features an artist, a composer and a poet for picture study, music appreciation and poetry. http://classicalmusicnartcharlottemasonstyle.blogspot.com/

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About Me

I am a follower of the LORD Jesus, Brian's wife for 34 years, a mother of 11, Grandma to ten. I love the LORD and His Word and I love my family, especially teaching and discipling my precious children. We're "addicted" to good books and having company, though not usually at the same time....